9 free events in NYC this January to get you fired up about winter

January brings the chilliest temperatures of the year in New York City and many find their wallets frozen, too. If you’re hoping to rebound from holiday spending but still want to enjoy the city’s cultural offerings, read on for our guide to free things to do around the city.

Go ice skating in Central Park

Can’t stand the lines and chaos during the Christmas season, but still want to get in some skate time this winter? NYC’s Culture Pass, included as a perk with your NYC public library card within the five boroughs, provides free access to iconic Wollman Rink all January. Entrance is free through Culture Pass, and skate rental is $11. Reserve tickets ahead of time on the Culture Pass website with your New York, Brooklyn, or Queens Public Library card. Culture Pass provides free access to plenty of other New York institutions, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Guggenheim Museum and live performances from Young Concert Artists.

Learn Tibetan meditation with an expert

Start 2024 off with some self-care – by learning how to meditate at the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art in Staten Island. On Sunday, Jan. 21, the museum hosts a free Intro to Tibetan Meditation class with Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam. Dr. Chok, a specialist of Buddhist meditation and Tibetan yoga, guides the class through basics of meditation, emphasizing both mental and physical well-being. You can reserve a spot here.

Enjoy a “Winter Tea” with live music in Prospect Park

On Saturday, Jan. 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., folks looking for some nature can meet at the Boathouse for a “Winter Tea.” The event will begin with a short hike, followed by music, poetry and, of course, tea. Musicians Gamin and Galen Passen are slated to perform. It’s BYOC (bring your own cup), and free and guests are encouraged to RSVP here.

See the latest and greatest artists at the Bronx Museum

The Bronx Museum has selected a group of artists to receive funding and support through its Artist in Marketplace (AIM) fellowship program. You can see the work of 53 up-and-coming talents who participated in the program from 2020 through 2023 at “Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial.” Artists whose work will be shown include Miguel Braceli, Sagarika Sundaram and Ruth Rodriguez. The multimedia exhibition focuses on themes like capitalism and colonialism and opens Tuesday, Jan. 26. Admission is free.

Celebrate MLK Jr. Day at a legendary venue

WNYC hosts its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem on Sunday, Jan. 14. The live event, “The Inconvenient King: Reclaiming Our Woke!” is hosted by WNYC’s very own Kai Wright, with an afternoon of music, spoken word and creative expression honoring Dr. King's legacy. Tickets are free but must be reserved online, starting Jan. 2.

Enjoy a night of tarot reading, salsa and litefeet dancing in Brooklyn Heights

The Center for Brooklyn History hosts its first ever “Salon” on Friday, Jan. 19, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hosted by artist Molly Crabapple, the event brings together poets, musicians and dancers – and even tarot card readers. Enjoy this community party as you dance salsa to the Anonima Orchestra and enjoy opera sung by Adriana Valdés. Advance RSVPs are required and can be made online here.

See the first American exhibition of UK artist R.I.P. Germain

On Thursday, Jan. 25, UK-based installation artist R.I.P. Germain opens his first U.S. exhibition at SculptureCenter in Long Island City. The exhibit, titled “Avangarda” uses storefronts and facades as the reference for his designs, creating spaces that appear banal yet mask potentially illicit activities, with elements typically associated with retail and urban spaces, such as shutters and graffiti. Admission to SculptureCenter is free, and more information is available on their website.

Go jogging with a running club

The Central Park Running Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m. at the Loeb Boathouse for their regular runs. Anyone can join; signups are online. If you’d prefer something closer to home, there are clubs in all five boroughs. Find one that suits you here.

Experience Aki Sasamoto’s abstract art exhibit “Point Reflection”

Immerse yourself in the abstract works of artist Aki Sasamoto at the Queens Museum. The New York-based artist’s exhibit, “Point Reflection,” is both a visual art experience and live theater performance, happening on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 3:33 p.m. to 4:18 p.m. The piece combines light, kinetic sculpture and repetitive patterns to entice the viewer to their own reflections on human nature. Admission is free, but guests must reserve a spot online in advance since entry is timed.